Highlights of Sicily Tour

The best way to see Sicily is on a circular route, with Catania as the place to arrive and Siracusa the place to start.  The east of the island is where it all began: from prehistoric Sicily, to the coast where the Greeks arrived, to Syracuse where the first and greatest golden age of Sicily flowered.  From Siracusa, we can follow a circular tour of the greatest sights of the island, returning to a restful epilogue in the east (the best wines, restaurants, beaches, and shopping) at Taormina, before leaving from Catania.  This is how you might understand Sicily as you enjoy her, in a comprehensible and comfortable chronological order.

Temple of Concord,
Agrigento

The best way to see Sicily is on a circular route, with Catania as the place to arrive and Siracusa the place to start. The east of the island is where it all began: from prehistoric Sicily, to the coast where the Greeks arrived, to Syracuse where the first and greatest golden age of Sicily flowered. From Siracusa, we can follow a circular tour of the greatest sights of the island, returning to a restful epilogue in the east (the best wines, restaurants, beaches, and shopping) at Taormina, before leaving from Catania. This is how you might understand Sicily as you enjoy her, in a comprehensible and comfortable chronological order.
 
Day 1 -- Arrive in Catania. We meet you at the airport and take you to Siracusa (incl). We check in at a charming hotel in Ortigia, the heart of ancient Syracuse.  We’ll have a welcome and group meeting. As you will be arriving jet-lagged, the first day will be settling in and getting oriented with a walk around the incredible island-peninsula of Ortigia, its rich history, palaces, narrow lanes, Jewish Quarter, and shops. Welcome dinner at a great Siracusa restaurant (incl) and overnight at Siracusa (Approdo delle Serene)
 
Day 2 – Today is our grand tour of Siracusa, the greatest of ancient Greek cities. We spend time in the Greek Theatre, one of the two best in existence, the Ear of Dionysius, and the Roman Amphitheatre. Then we travel up to the world’s only surviving ancient Greek fort and its lovely overlook of the coast, where the stories of ancient Syracuse spread before us. In the late afternoon, we will have a cooking class with a renowned local chef, dining on our own creations (incl). Overnight at Siracusa (Approdo delle Serene)
 
Day 3 -- We visit the charming town of Modica where chocolate is made in the traditional Aztec way brought to Sicily by the Spaniards. Lunch at a dairy farm deep in the countryside where farmers Ornella and her husband Salvo show us around the cheese, cows, and rabbits (incl). Afternoon visit to Noto a UNESCO World Heritage site of honey-gold baroque. Overnight at Siracusa (Approdo delle Serene)
 
Day 4  -- Depart Siracusa for the amazing Roman villa at Piazza Armerina with its wonderful mosaic floors. We will make an early start in order to route ourselves through the delightful Hyblean Highlands, seeing some splendid scenery (deep gorges, and wildflowers in the spring) in the deep interior of Sicily.
               We visit the vineyards of Feudo Principi di Butera where we have a wine tasting and a light lunch. (incl) After, we take an afternoon drive on country roads to Agrigento. Here we find the Greeks again, and temples the equal to those in Greece. Dinner at a great seafood restaurant (incl) and overnight in Agrigento in a hotel overlooking the temples. (Hotel Baglio della Luna)
         
Day 5 – We travel west along the remote south coast to the Greek city of Selinunte on its magnificent coastal site. Then we continue to Erice and tour the ancient mountaintop town that Virgil tells us was founded by Aeneas. We enjoy a pastry demonstration at Maria Grammatico’s shop, made famous by Mary Simeti’s book Bitter Almonds (incl). Overnight high in a 13th-century castle. (Torri Pepoli)
 
Day 6 – We travel down to Marsala, for a winery tour and tasting in either the Florio or Donnafugata winery (incl). We see the ancient Trapani salt flats and their romantic windmills. We turn north to visit the incomparably beautiful temple at Segesta. Dinner at one of the best restaurants for real Sicilian cuisine (Altri Tempi) (incl) and overnight in Palermo (Hotel Grand et des Palmes)
 
Day 7 –A morning walking tour of all those incredible sites in Palermo. We lunch at the famous Foccaceria di San Francesco (not incl) and then you have the rest of the day free for shopping and relaxing. Opera or Puppet shows are options in season. Overnight in Palermo. (Hotel Grand et des Palmes)
 
Day 8 -- We visit the cathedral of Monreale, the Normans in all their splendour before driving along the coast to Cefalù; for a tour of this charming seacoast town with its Norman cathedral. Onto your hotel in the mountains overlooking the sea in a 13th century monastery set in its own organic wine yard for a pre-dinner wine tasting (incl). Dinner (incl) and overnight. (Relais Sant’Anastasia)
 
Day 9 -- Up Mount Etna, home of Cyclops, through volcanic landscapes to the end of the road. There is an option (not incl) to go by tram & 4WD almost to the top). Then onto the charming village of Savoca where scenes from The Godfather were filmed. Check into your lovely hotel in Taormina with views over the sea and over to Mount Etna. Pizza dinner (incl) and overnight in Taormina (Hotel Villa Belvedere)
         
Day 10  – Visit the Roman theatre in Taormina with its famous view over the sea towards Etna. Rest of the day free: relax, swim, enjoy the shops, views and restaurants in Taormina. We finish your tour with our “Arrivederci” dinner at an elegant local restaurant (incl) (Hotel Villa Belvedere)
         
Day 11 – We will take you to Catania airport for your flight home  (incl).

NB: Itinerary Adjustments: Throughout the year, there are different opportunities available to us, and we will adjust the itinerary to reflect events available only in a specific month or season. For example, the June tour will add a performance at the Siracusa Greek theatre; the May tour will add the Noto Flower festival; tours July to October might allow for more beach time. An item on the itinerary might be dropped to accommodate such additions. We will ensure the total value of the tour remains constant. Please check with us as to itinerary adjustments in the month you are thinking to visit. And, sure, give us your ideas; we’re flexible.

NB: Walking: Sicily can be rugged and temples and villages tend to be on high overlooks. Walking requirements are fairly light, but anyone with trouble negotiating several flights of stairs, or steep rocky slopes, or level distances over a mile, please speak with us.